Repent in the Book of Acts

Essentially, to repent means to change your mind; but, as we are seeing, that change of mind is the engine that pulls a train. Repent rarely stands alone, there’s almost always an and that follows. Let’s take a look.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

This is the conclusion of that Pentecostal sermon. Peter said they rejected and crucified Jesus, but that God raised him from the dead. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

What a bold sermon - You rejected and killed Christ!

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

“How can we correct this wrong we have done?” Repent – change your thinking about Jesus, acknowledge him to be Christ, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ - acknowledge and embrace Jesus as the Christ. The promise: remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Peter’s sermon here: The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses (13-15). Therefore,

Repent – change your mind about Jesus, confess you were wrong in denying him, and be converted – turn to Christ; believe, be baptized, follow him. And the promise: That your sins may be blotted out.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Oh the apostles were so bold! Paul was preaching to Greeks who were wholly given over to idolatry: God now commands all men everywhere to repent of this idolatry – stop worshiping images and return to the one, true God. 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. I think it is safe to say the message was: Repent of idolatry, give it up and believe in Jesus, who was raised from the dead. The promise is resurrection from the dead, judgment, assurance of deliverance in that Great Day of Judgment.

Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is Paul speaking to the Ephesians elders, reminding them of his message.

Repentance toward God – the Greeks (Gentiles) worshipped idols and many gods, so this means they had to change the way they thought about God – He is not one among many, He is the one and only God; He is not an immoral scoundrel, He is holy and righteous; He is not temperamental and unpredictable, He is faithful and true; He is not an image made with their own hands, He is the  living God.

and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ – repent and believe; this is the goal of repentance, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Paul has been boldly preaching Jesus to King Agrippa and that he was called to go to the Gentiles 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. This was his message: Repent and turn to God.

Repent – change your thinking about your idols, they are not God; turn away from them, give them up.

and turn to God - turn to the true God; turn from darkness to light, from Satan to God. How? By believing in Jesus, being baptized in his name, following him.

What was promised to this repentance?  …that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

 

Repent means to change what you think about God, about Jesus; confess your sins; and take the appropriate and required action - turn to God, believe in Jesus, be baptized in his name, do works meet for repentance.

NEXT: Repent in the Epistles